When a poor and industrious mechanic, farmer, or labourer comes here without pretensions of any kind, no such complaints are to be heard.  He is treated with respect, and every one seems willing to help him forward.  If in after-years the manners of such a settler should grow in importance with his prosperity—­which is rarely the case—­his pretensions would be much more readily tolerated than those of any unknown or untried individual in a higher class of society.

The North Americans generally are much more disposed to value people according to the estimate they form of their industry, and other qualities which more directly lead to the acquisition of property, and to the benefit of the community, than for their present and actual wealth.  While they pay a certain mock homage to a wealthy immigrant, when they have a motive in doing so, they secretly are more inclined to look on him as a well-fledged goose who has come to America to be plucked.  In truth, many of them are so dexterous in this operation that the unfortunate victim is often stripped naked before he is aware that he has lost a feather.

There seems to be a fatality attending riches imported into Canada.  They are sure to make to themselves wings and flee away, while wealth is no less certain to adhere to the poor and industrious settler.  The great fault of the Canadian character is an unwillingness to admit the just claims of education and talent, however unpretending, to some share of consideration.  In this respect the Americans of the United States are greatly superior to the Canadians, because they are better educated and their country longer settled.  These genuine Republicans, when their theory of the original and natural equality among them is once cheerfully admitted, are ever ready to show respect to mental superiority, whether natural or acquired.

My evenings on visiting C—–­ were usually spent at Mr. S—–­’s tavern, where I was often much amused with the variety of characters who were there assembled, and who, from the free-and-easy familiarity of the colonial manners, had little chance of concealing their peculiarities from an attentive observer.

Mr Q—–­, of course, was always to be found there, drinking, smoking cigars, and cracking jokes.  To a casual observer he appeared to be a regular boon companion without an object but that of enjoying the passing hour.  Among his numerous accomplishments, he had learnt a number of sleight-of-hand tricks from the travelling conjurors who visit the country, and are generally willing to sell their secrets singly, at a regulated price.  This seemed a curious investment for Q—–­, but he knew how to turn everything to account.  By such means he was enabled to contribute to the amusement of the company, and thus became a kind of favourite.  If he could not manage to sell a lot of land to an immigrant or speculator, he would carelessly propose to some of the company to have a game at whist or loo, to pass the time away; and he never failed to conjure most of their money into his pockets.